Biography of the One Like a Dragon
Tags
Summary
Editor's review
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Researchers and enthusiasts interested in Daoist culture and the evolution of Laozi's image
- Students of literature and history engaged in collating or studying ancient Chinese religious texts
- Readers of Chinese classics who wish to understand the conventions of the traditional immortal-biography genre
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking rigorous historical scholarship on Laozi; this book is chiefly myth and legend
- Beginner readers who want only plain-language retellings and have no patience for classical Chinese
- Purely literary readers with no interest in religious theology
Reading tips
- Begin with the preface or publisher's note to learn about Jia Shanxiang's life, the book's background, and its textual editions.
- Read alongside the Laozi chapter of the Records of the Grand Historian and compare the differences between historical and Daoist biographical accounts.
- Look up unfamiliar Daoist scriptural terms in a Daoist dictionary as needed; there is no need to finish the book in one sitting.
- Take notes on key episodes such as Laozi's birth and preaching, and trace the narrative threads of his deification.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 猶龍傳
- 猶龍傳序
- 猶龍傳卷之一
- 猶龍傳卷之二
- 猶龍傳卷之三
- 猶龍傳卷之四
- 猶龍傳卷之五
- 猶龍傳卷之六
FAQ
Where does the title Youlong zhuan come from?
Is this book a historical work or a religious text?
Can I understand it without any background in Daoism?
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About the author
Information about Jia Shanxiang's life is very limited in publicly available sources. His active period, native place, and lineage of teachers are not clearly recorded, so his writing can only be understood through works that have come down to us. One work by him is included here, the Youlong Zhuan (Biography of the Dragon of Stillness), generally classified under Eastern philosophy. Judging from its title and subject matter, the book centers on Daoist figures and thought and has the character of a traditional Daoist biography or intellectual narrative, reflecting the author's attention to the Laozi tradition and Daoist culture. Because relevant materials are scarce, it is difficult to assess with certainty the full scale of Jia Shanxiang's writings, his scholarly standing, or his influence in his own time; he can only be regarded as one of the writers of ancient Daoist texts. In reading the Youlong Zhuan, readers may note its narrative manner and intellectual orientation, and thereby glimpse the general features of traditional Daoist biographical writing.
